Sugar: The Bitter Truth

SusieSonshine · August 2009

LOL!!

chgudnitz · August 2009

Everyone that is taking things out of their diet (and their kid's diets) please make sure you are replacing the good things you are taking away with something to put the nutrients back. If you take fruit juice away, give them fruit. Don't just say "here is water, its better for you"

There is no benefit to having thin, unhealthy, malnourished children just to say they don't have sugar and are skinny.

Think about it before you jump on one person's report on sugar... Just a little devil's advocate. :drinker: (there is sugar free cool-aide in those cups)

July24Lioness · August 2009

I have been saying this all along and other members on this site have been bashing me coming and going.

I posted an article last week or so saying how they are growing fruit bigger and bigger even, which makes it contain more sugar, so we even have to be aware of how much fruit we are putting in our body.

There is a big size difference between typical grocery store produce and organic produce. Organic produce is a LOT smaller and color wise different than typical grocery store produce.

Vegetables and some fruit is GREAT for us, but fruit still needs to be eaten in portion sizes, which many people don't realize.

My personal belief is that there is a conspiracy out there between the government, insurance companies and the Big Pharma companies.

They are trying to keep people addicted to sugar, white flour and junk food so they can keep us with high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, etc.............that way they all fatten their pockets while we stay sick and lethargic, which requires more and more meds along with surgeries, etc, etc.............

That is why I lost faith in our medical community and have chosen to treat my diseases and syndromes with natural medicine (through a naturopath and a natural pharmacist.).................

I try to eat as clean as I possibly can and I stay away from white bread, buns, french fries, etc..............

barbiecat · August 2009

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
Bravo to all of this.
:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

margaretthedevil · August 2009

No I don't drink anything sugar free...just water, soy milk (unsweetened), and green tea. Do not drink alcohol. I'm not even "legal." Okay the ocassional treat drink (not alcoholic!), but everyone is human right? :laugh:
I definitely agree to give your kids fruit for fiber and vitamins. If you cut them from soda and juice, make sure to be giving them extra nutrients (vitamins and minerals esp. calcium). Soda, soft drinks, and juice are horrible for bones, make your kids vitamin and mineral deprived, and get kids craving even more sugar. Do not give your kids money to buy these things at school either!

hasiangirl · August 2009

i'm not going to deprive my children of having a sugar fix every once in a while...that is part of being a kid, :bigsmile: but sugar with reason is ok for kids.....and i cant help it if my 3 yr old is skinny lmao...he can eat constantly...and not gain a pound (he's very active)

chgudnitz · August 2009

But on top of that, when dealing with children, you have to remember that if you tell a kid they can't have something, they will be tempted to get it on their own. Just saying no, soda is bad for you, or no, candy is bad doesn't mean they wont get it. If people are going to remove these things from their children, then there needs to be explanations about WHY. And make sure the children understand it. If not, school can be a very easy place for kids to get things their parents wont give them. Money doesn't matter either, kids find ways to get what they want. Bartering (at least when I was in school "i'll give you this for your that"

July24Lioness · August 2009

That is not necessarily true.

My sister keeps a sugar free household. My nephew is quick to tell my dad - "Grandpa I don't like that stuff, it is tooo sweet."

My nephew was breast fed and my sister made home made baby food. He has tried cookies, cakes, candy, soda, fruit juice, formula, baby food, etc.............and didn't like any of it.

My nephews favorite breakfast is home made yogurt with fruit and home made granola. He is 4, getting ready to turn 5 and go to school. He went to pre-K this past school year and he came home and told my sister that the kids in school eat yucky.

He takes his lunch so my sister knows what he is eating.

chgudnitz · August 2009

I didn't mean to imply that skinny kids are unhealthy. I meant it in if we make our kids unhealthy or don't give them the best possible nutrition just in the name of weight, then we are doing them an injustice. I don't promote sugar with my kid. I would him rather never eat candy or soda or anything else bad for him, because I don't want him to EVER deal with what I dealt with as on overweight kid. But I won't stop him from having a little bit of it. We let him have fruit juice, I don't drink it myself, but he does. He is limited to 4 ounces a day. My kid is skinny, and I hope he stays that way. But I know he is healthy, and I knew he was healthy when he had his baby fat.

I know thats kind of a ramble, but when it comes to kids it means a lot ot me. What a parent does at an early age can SERIOUSLY impact the eating and nutrition of their children for the rest of their lives.

chgudnitz · August 2009

No offense, but he's 4 and still listens to mommy and daddy or whoever he looks up to. Let him be 9, or 10, or whatever age, have peer pressure, his own decision making ability, realize that maybe mommy and daddy aren't the end all be all, then see what happens. Maybe that cookie will taste good when all of his friends are eating them.

Maybe not, maybe he is unique and special. Good luck with that. But what I said is indeed true for the vast majority of children.

chgudnitz · August 2009

and BTW, Susie, sorry about the hijacking. I didn't mean for that to happen. :flowerforyou:

mrd232 · August 2009

Well, you can start by making sure your kids are getting enough wholesome fat in their diet. I know, I know, I'm the "fat" advocate here, but seriously, fill in your diet with some good EFAs and I'll tell you, good things will happen. In the 90 minute lecture I think Lustig makes a fantastic point about the reduction in fat consumption over the years and the increase in sugar consumption.

You can also start by encouraging the drinking of water with lime, lemon, orange slices to add flavor without adding unnecessary sugar or artificial sweetener. Or try serving up some fresh brewed unsweetened tea. This was always a favorite of mine as a kid. Seriously, no sugar. I got my tastebuds to go with the flow and there's nothing better. You couldn't pay me to drink a glass of poiso...er sweet tea these days.

But I think what's important is there needs to be some discussion about sugar being bad. I never "got" this as a kid, because well, heck, it's in most of our food so how is it so bad? HUH? It's almost like explaining why alcohol addiction isn't good. Why sure it makes you feel good, it gives you a little happy buzz, but over time it breaks down your liver and gives you rotten beer gut. Sugar, unfortunately, is not much different. That analogy your grandmother gave you about getting your d*** hand out of the candy jar for fear you'd get a stomach ache? SHE WAS RIGHT.

And sure, we all want a sugar fix once in a while and kids do, too. BUT they need to know when it's time to stop. The best rule of thumb is to keep the crap out of the house and only allow it on special occasions. No one needs dessert every night and soda shouldn't be a part of a balanced diet. Common sense, but a lot of kids don't see it that way. That's where ya gotta lead by example.

nobleps · August 2009

if you at least try to teach your children when they are young...they can never say "you didn't teach them that!" We have so much knowledge today with I-net at our fingertips. It's easier for us to gain knowledge then it has been for us that have lived 50+ years and not known as much truth. Two and three year olds are the easiest to start teaching right. If you wait, bad habits already begin forming, then it is not easy to change. It becomes more of a battle for the parent. We have enough other battles to fight ! LOL :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

margaretthedevil · August 2009

Yup, peer pressure will get to them. It's cool to eat junk. When children and teens hang out, they go get food that that food is well mostly junk. When children get older you can't stop them from eating what they eat at school or what they buy outside, but you can instill them with the knowledge of what are good choices and bad choices and why. If you start them young in a sugar-free household (lionness, good for your siste for doing this btw), they will not be craving sugar and other junk food. Too sugar and junk will probably make them sick and they probably not eat it. It's too bad that school reinforce unhealthy eating with vending machines, bad cafeteria food, etc. That really needs to change.

hasiangirl · August 2009

no i know u werent implying that if a kid is skinny its unhealthy hun, it was somewhat of a joke, that he eats like a piggy and doesnt gain a pound, but he;s also constantly moving (wish i had his energy sometimes) and i totally understand where you're coming from....kids are very easily molded in a sense and as parents we have to be careful with what we teach them and give them....luckily my oldest son would rather have tomatos over candy along with fruits over candy and chips....the only thing he wants all the time is juice so i let him have 2 juice boxes maximum a day......
But this morning I WAS IRRATE!! this morning his grandma had cut him off a huge piece of sugary blueberry pie for breakfast...but he didnt eat it and asked for peanut butter crackers instead ....so instead of fussing with him to eat eggs for breakfast i figured some peanut butter crackers would be ok....just means an early snack before lunch

BrendaLee · August 2009

Your sister is lucky that she has such an agreeable little boy. Being taught something from birth is different than trying to teach something to older children, preteens and teens. I tried to get my teen to go vegetarian with me, and she did for 8 months, but now she'd chow down on a big mac without thinking twice. (We both added chicken/turkey back into our diets)

Everything I've learned on this journey, she's learned right along with me...but when you're a teen, the last thing you're thinking about is how sugar is damaging your body and/or affecting your liver and insulin levels. Actually, with a teen, it's better to put it in terms of how good she'll look if she eats right. With little kids, you just have to pull the old "no, because I said no" until they're old enough to understand it in other terms. (I'm, of course, speaking in general here of the children/teens in my life- there are exceptions to everything)

July24Lioness · August 2009

I truly believe it is because he hasn't developed the "sweet tooth" that other kids have. A child doesn't miss what they never had in the first place. He gets to make up his own mind on things he wants. People at restaurants are always amazed because he will order a steak, salad and steamed veggies and ask for a fruit plate for a dessert. He eats what he wants of it and my sister takes the rest home for him, for later.

My sister is doing Atkins with me, while pregnant, she ate Maintenance style and only gained 20 pounds. She is doing the same thing with this pregnancy too and she has gained only 16 or 18 pounds this time around.................

hasiangirl · August 2009

thats very true that children dont miss what they dont have....but its more the teenage years to be careful of...but where he didnt aquire a sweet too then he may never have one... my parents didnt give me many sweets when i was younger nor did i ask for any....but now ive realized im on the opposite side of the spectrum...i can live without sweets fairly easily, but i douse everything in salt....i guess u can say i have a salty tooth :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

SusieSonshine · August 2009

LOL!! It's good to talk about all these things!! Everyone is coming from a different place and perspective!

When talking about health, whether it be children or adults, moderation is key. Personally, I tend to follow a more paleothithic diet, but have my downfalls. <grin> I don't judge anyone on what they eat. However, I think that we need to make INFORMED choices. And if HFCS is being put in all the processed foods that Americans (and others that have adopted the American diet) eat, and simply stated is causing FAT to be made by the liver, which in turn causes metabollic syndrome, then we should know about it, and choose for ourselves! Dietary fat and cholesterol has been made the enemy, when in fact it is SUGAR, and in particular, HFCS. Even so, all things in moderation. The problem is that in a "normal" American diet, HFCS consumption is NOT in moderation, but most are not aware of it! As Dr. Lustig said, people do not CHOOSE to be fat, especially children, even though he cites one person in history who most likely did. And some people are under the false assumption that HFCS is "natural." I was one of those! My eyes have been opened!

All the best to everyone on the journey to fitness!! :flowerforyou:

sjmay · August 2009

bump

SusieSonshine · August 2009

Yes! For years I've been saying this! But the one thing that Lustig gave me is a true reason/mechanism for WHY sugar, and in particular HFCS, is so bad for us!

Again, all things in moderation, but, as lioness points out, I don't think that most of us really know what moderation is anymore! She's right about organic fruits and veggies being smaller sizes (except zucchini! it grows from pinky finger size to an arm's length overnight!! lol!!), although, I just got some organic peaches from our local organic growers and they are HUGE!!! The garlic is so teeny tiny that it's almost too much to bother with! hahah!! But, again, as Lustig points out, portions have gotten bigger, and bigger, and bigger over the years (yuck @ the TX "Deal"). When I was a kid, people ate at home and it was a rare treat to eat out in a restaurant. Nowadays, it's a rare treat to eat a homecooked meal!! I was at Costco and asked a girl who works there if they have molasses and where to find it, and she had no idea what molasses is! That happened there TWICE! two different workers! It just shows me that the "norm" of today is not cooking/baking at home.

Anyways, have a great week, everyone! Eat to your health!

:drinker:

^(there's water in them thar mugs!! LOL!)^

nickiebb · August 2009

bump

nobleps · August 2009

sjmay

I love your sit up smiley!:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

rtmama · August 2009

Thanks for posting this, I am trying to watch it on my iPhone right now!

SusieSonshine · August 2009

Awesome!! BTW, I like your profile and how you pointed out that you're eliminating all the processed, chemical crap outta yer diet! Good for you!!!

rtmama · August 2009

Finished watching the video this AM; I don't know if I believe everything he states, but it makes a lot of sense.

I know I can't eliminate sugar completely, and I have already tried eliminating HFCS from most stuff. I will definitely keep an eye on my sugar grams every day!

Opened my eyes to a lot of stuff. Thanks Susie for posting it!

rtmama · August 2009

Thanks for the encouragement, Susie!

rachi20024 · August 2009

AWESOME I really like how he backs everything he claims therefore making it fact with scientific findings. I ate a raw diet and no meat before I became pregnant no processed shiot. When I became preggo the nurses informed me that I was not taking in enough nutrients for baby. So I started eating dairy and meat and my body went into shock. I was gaining weight rapidly one month as much as 18 pounds.:sick: Not healthy at all. Now I realized that I was chocking my body full of HFCS I then got gestational diabetes:noway: I would contribute that to the HFCS. Thanks for the eye opener!

SusieSonshine · August 2009

You kinda did your own experiment like "Supersize Me!"

:flowerforyou:

questionablemethods · April 2010

Bumping this because I finally got around to watching it and it is SO EYE OPENING. Watch it if you haven't yet. It is long, but so informative. Basically, it boils down to "fructose (or sucrose, which is half fructose) without fiber is poison".

I hardly ever drink soda or juice the way it is but now I will DEFINITELY be staying away from the stuff.

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

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